For Two Pa. Teens, Two Paths To College

I heard this report on NPR’s All Things Considered show, and NPR found a transcript of it at npr.org. The segment followed the lives of two  college bound teens who had graduated from the same high school. They were interviewed at their high school graduations, and then were revisited every two months. Both of these kids had plans for going to college. Both had gone to an elite high school, and the girl had graduated 3rd in her class. However, she never made it to the college that had given her a 15,000 dollar scholarship. Her family couldnt come up with the 17,000 dollar balance. She was attending the local community college instead. What amazed me about the interview was how different her voice was from her interview at her high school graduation in May to the last interview in November. Her spirits were broken, and you could hear it in her voice. Here was a gir that wants to be a nurse and had worked so hard to get there that now was contemplating dropping out completely. The other student that they interviewed had actually reached his goal of going to college. He was happy and successfu; having the time of his life. In the end, the university that the boy attended offered the young lady a scholarship. She will be attending   4 year university in January. But it just makes me think about all the young students in similar situations that dont get the publicity of NPR behind them to help send them on their way. She was lucky and determined. Unfortunately there are many more young adults out there that dont have the wil to make college a reality.